Next time you attend a Johnston High School football game I challenge you to look at the student section and count the number of digital cameras you see. Chances are there will be more than a dozen Canon’s flashing away, capturing FNL’s memories.

This ‘new’ fad may stump people that grew up in the ‘80’s when these chunky, wrist-strapped pieces of technology were the way to capture the moment. Now that we have cellphones with better quality, longer batteries and more storage, why does it seem like so many people are going retro?

1. TikTok

Surprise! Social media contributes. No matter what part of the internet you’re on, I bet there is at least one microtrend you’ve participated in. The real question now is, how long will these digital cameras last?

“Trends that originate on TikTok, where most videos are no longer than a minute, typically have shorter lifespans than trends that arise on less high-speed, high-volume platforms,” According to CNN reporters AJ Willingham, Leah Asmelash and Scottie Andrew.

This means that no matter if you think your digicam is the best accessory you own and nothing will ever top it again, I ask you to think back at other “absolute necessities” you probably begged your parents to buy. How about bucket hats… fifty different hydroflasks… shein hauls? These microtrends, for as popular as they get, do eventually crash and burn when they’ve had their use.

2. Aesthetics

I can’t sit on my high horse for I, too, have fallen victim to this microtrend. I asked for a digital camera for Christmas ‘24 and have used it ever since. I won’t be the first to admit the photos are extremely cute and very Instagram worthy. 

“I like capturing the moment and being separated from my phone,” Julia Christiansen ‘26 said. “I like the whole process of it and going through the memories of high school and being able to have it on a digital camera to look back on photos.”

In a screen heavy age, it does feel good to pose for a camera that isn’t a phone, once in a while. Plus, being able to physically click buttons to look at photos gives the moment a feeling of nostalgia and 2000’s coming-of-age movies.

With Tiktok trends and aesthetically pleasing posts on the front of everyone’s mind, we should all take a moment to appreciate this phone-down, eyes up microtrend for as long as it lasts. So remember, next time you look at Friday Night Lights with Canon’s snapping away, take a moment, breathe it in.